Interview with Jerome (THE WARR)

August is going to be a truly hot month at Vanadian Avenue. Forget the heatwaves, El Nino and even the biggest solar eclipse in the last 30 years. Nothing will be as hott (with double tt as Paris Hilton used to say!) as our coverage of Tuggawar’s new album “Thirteen” that is slated for release in a couple of weeks. Tuggawar known for his dynamite mixture of rock, pop, reggaetón, dance hall and hip-hop is now teaming up with The Warr – his unique and very experienced backing band. Today, we are sitting down with the Warr’s guitarist Jerome to speak about his rock and roll childhood, working with old friends and his side projects.

When we started to prepare for this interview we realized that you are a person with the most rock and roll life story! Was it true that you were born in a flat above the Underhill Studios, where David Bowie created his Ziggy Stardust persona or that Iggy Pop would read you bedtime stories?

Jerome: Yes! I lived above Underhill from my first day on planet earth and remained there for a few years. The whole Ziggy Stardust and Iggy Pop stories are all true! I certainly had an interesting childhood, but not conventional by any means. I was already going to all night parties by age 7 and Andy Clark would often take me to his gigs. As much fun as that was, I can’t help wondering if a bit of normality might’ve of been good for me!

Both your biological father Jimmy Copley and your adoptive father Andy Clark are incredibly established musicians with decade long careers in the business used to sharing stages with the likes of Jeff Beck, Paul Weller or Robert Plant. Do you feel like you have got to prove yourself as an artist and musician?

Jerome: Do I feel I have to prove myself? Not as much right now. It was harder when I was younger and not as experienced, but I’ve paid my dues and gotten to travel and write /record /perform with ARTISTS I grew up listening to. It doesn’t get better than that!

You played your first gig ever at the iconic Astoria. It is sadly no longer standing but there are many incredible grass music venues around the country. What are your favourite stages to play?

Jerome: Actually, I had been performing long before the Astoria gig! Although, certainly the Astoria gig gave me a certain level of confidence to carry on, I was 19 and saw it as a step in the right direction. Years later, I’d play it again when Gemma was in Babyshambles and they had the infamous X-mas party where the riot went down! My favourites stages to play, let’s see: I really like playing Brixton Academy, The 100 club, Temple in Athens and Castle Party in Poland .

Tuggawar and The Warr photographed by Rhian Croney

In your long career you have worked with Peter Doherty, Black Bordello, Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls, Gary Powell of The Libertines amongst many others. Tell us how you became a part of The Warr?

Jerome: Gemma, Aaron and I were playing in a group with Andy Blade (formerly from the band Eater). That fizzled out and months later, Gemma called me up and mentioned the Warr project and the rest, as they say, is history. I’d known Gemma since Shambles days and admired her playing and dedication to her craft.

Tuggawar describes himself as “a man unlike any other”. How do you find working with him? Any clashes of personalities? Are sparks flying during recording sessions?

Jerome: I find Tugga really easy to work with. He knows what he wants and how to get it. His dedication to his music is next level. He’s probably one of the hardest working people I know. The record “Thirteen”, we just recorded was made in a couple of days at a haunted Foel Studios in rural Wales. Some mornings Tugga would awake and find knives arranged in a ritualistic manner, so we hung our flag and declared WAR! I hung a TYR rune in the room I shared with my friend Ryan, which also reflects War. At night I’d have very strange dreams – I’d say all of these experiences and more found their way onto the album. Around 3am, a silent thunderstorm erupted in the sky and after I got home, I apparently didn’t speak for days! Such was the intensity of it all. Aaron was great, he pretty much led the sessions programming some fantastic sounds and Dean instantly came up with great riffs. Tuggawar was very focused and worked very quickly as did Gemma. Alchemically, it works .

Gemma, The Warr drummer, said that the whole band is incredibly proud of “Thirteen”, the debut album with Tuggawar. Is there a track that truly stands out for you? Was there a moment of magic in the studio, where you just went “wow, I absolutely love this song”?

Jerome: I think songs should reflect the dream state, not the reality we exist in. “Climb up” does that for me. Tugga and I spoke about combining elements of industrial, dancehall, neofolk and hip hop and more importantly, to make it cinematic! The album sounds like musical chapters to me and for our first effort, I’m very pleased.

Your past project Automata caught the interest of Trent Reznor. Do you think you want at some point to resurrect the band and see where it would take you this time?

Jerome: I’m still in touch with Sam (producer/keyboards), in fact he’s helping me finish the last Deadcuts album. He and Karl (guitarist), they’re close friends. As for Trent, it’s been decades since we spoke last. He’s now even more successful and famous than he was when we met way back in the 90’s when I was a young teenager. There was a promoter, who reached out to me a few years ago asking me to revive The Skuzzies for an “indie punk nostalgia gig” – those words had me almost vomit! He was offering quite a lot of money, but like Automata, that was then. I’m nostalgic to a point, but not when it comes to creation. I’m actually always thinking about the next record. I am doing a solo album, but that will manifest when it’s meant to .